The Hangover Part II (2011)

Last updated:
August 20, 2025

Todd Phillips’ The Hangover Part II (2011) is the raunchy, chaotic follow-up to the wildly successful The Hangover (2009). While the formula is familiar—friends wake up in a disastrous situation with no memory of the previous night—it escalates the chaos by moving the setting from Las Vegas to Bangkok.

Table of Contents

Detailed Summary

The Calm Before the Storm

Stu (Ed Helms) is finally settling down and preparing to marry Lauren (Jamie Chung) in Thailand. Determined to avoid the disaster of Doug’s (Justin Bartha) bachelor party in Vegas, Stu insists on a “safe and boring” wedding. His resolve is shattered when his best friends—Phil (Bradley Cooper), Alan (Zach Galifianakis), and Doug—arrive. Despite his intentions, Stu agrees to one quiet drink on the beach before the wedding.

Waking Up in Bangkok

The next morning, the group wakes up in a filthy hotel room in Bangkok, disoriented and hungover. Doug is safe back at the resort, but Teddy (Mason Lee), Lauren’s teenage brother, is missing—except for his severed finger, which they discover in their hotel room. Alan’s head is shaved, Stu has a new facial tattoo, and Chow (Ken Jeong), their eccentric acquaintance from Vegas, is mysteriously with them.

Searching for Teddy

Their frantic search for Teddy takes them across Bangkok. They run into a violent Russian mobster, encounter corrupt monks, and even Stu ends up discovering he has had a sexual encounter with a transgender sex worker—an unexpected revelation that plays heavily into the film’s crude humor. Chow gets shot after snorting cocaine (though not fatally), leaving them with fewer leads.

Chaos and Confrontations

As they scramble through the city, the trio uncovers more clues: Teddy was last seen at a club but disappeared after a chaotic night. They also realize the severed finger in their possession is Teddy’s, confirming he’s alive but in trouble. Stu becomes increasingly unhinged, feeling cursed to live through chaos before any milestone in his life.

Piecing It Together

Phil calls Lauren to stall the wedding, while Alan and Stu retrace their steps. They eventually realize Teddy is locked inside an elevator at the hotel where they first woke up, having accidentally trapped himself while trying to escape the chaos.

Movie Ending

In the final stretch, Stu finally finds Teddy—alive but missing a finger—proving that their insane adventure has at least one happy outcome. They rush back just in time for the wedding. Stu, no longer the timid pushover, delivers a bold and fiery wedding speech, acknowledging the insanity of his life and embracing it. Lauren’s father, who initially disapproved of Stu, is won over by his honesty and passion. The film ends with the wedding going ahead as planned, a chaotic but heartfelt conclusion.

But the madness doesn’t quite end there. After the ceremony, the group discovers Alan’s phone, which contains incriminating and absurd photos from the lost night in Bangkok. Just like in the first film, the credits roll over a slideshow of these photos, revealing the full extent of their debauchery—until the final freeze frame leaves the audience stunned and laughing.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No, The Hangover Part II does not feature a traditional post-credits scene. The photo montage during the credits functions as the comedic “reveal” of the film, tying up the mystery of the night before. Once the photos end, the movie concludes.

Type of Movie

The film is a raunchy comedy, heavy on shock humor, sexual gags, and over-the-top scenarios. It blends buddy comedy with elements of mystery as the group retraces their steps to uncover the night’s events.

Cast

Bradley Cooper as Phil Wenneck
Ed Helms as Stu Price
Zach Galifianakis as Alan Garner
Justin Bartha as Doug Billings
Ken Jeong as Leslie Chow
Jamie Chung as Lauren (Stu’s fiancée)
Mason Lee as Teddy (Lauren’s younger brother)
Paul Giamatti as Kingsley

Film Music and Composer

The soundtrack is a mix of modern rock, hip-hop, and party anthems, curated to amplify the outrageous tone. Songs from artists like Kanye West, Billy Joel, and Wolfmother appear. The film’s score was composed by Christophe Beck, who also worked on the first film, maintaining a balance between tension and humor.

Filming Locations

Bangkok, Thailand: Most of the movie was filmed on location in Bangkok, giving the film its gritty, chaotic backdrop.
Los Angeles, USA: Some studio scenes and interiors were filmed here.
Bangkok’s authenticity adds to the film’s raw energy, turning the city itself into a character full of unpredictability and danger.

Awards and Nominations

While commercially successful, the film received mostly negative reviews. However, it was nominated for several awards:

Teen Choice Awards (2011): Nominated for Choice Movie: Comedy.
Golden Trailer Awards: Nominated for Best Comedy.

Behind the Scenes Insights

Ed Helms wore a prosthetic tattoo inspired by Mike Tyson’s real face tattoo, sparking an actual lawsuit from Tyson’s tattoo artist.
The production faced challenges filming in Bangkok, especially with crowds and weather.
Zach Galifianakis reportedly struggled with filming in Thailand due to its intense heat and chaotic environment.
Paul Giamatti’s cameo was kept secret until the movie’s release.

Inspirations and References

The film mirrors the structure of the first Hangover—a “missing person mystery” after a night of drunken chaos. The story isn’t based on a book but draws heavily from the first film’s formula, simply transplanting it to a more extreme and exotic setting.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

No alternate ending was released, though several deleted or extended sequences were cut for pacing. These mostly included extra scenes of drunken antics in Bangkok.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

The shocking reveal of Teddy’s severed finger in the hotel room.
Stu’s panic when he learns he had sex with a transgender sex worker.
Chow’s cocaine-fueled singing and sudden collapse.
The slideshow of photos at the end, filling in the outrageous gaps of the night.

Iconic Quotes

Alan: “When a monkey nibbles on a weenis, it’s funny in any language.”
Stu: “I’ve been drugged again. It’s a big deal.”
Phil: “It happened again!”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

Alan’s love of the Jonas Brothers carries over from the first film.
Mike Tyson makes another cameo appearance, singing at the wedding reception.
The facial tattoo on Stu is a direct nod to Tyson’s appearance in The Hangover (2009).

Trivia

The film grossed over $586 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing R-rated comedy at the time.
Mel Gibson was originally cast in a cameo as a Bangkok tattoo artist but was replaced by Liam Neeson due to backlash. Neeson’s role was later cut and reshot with Nick Cassavetes.
Ed Helms’ reaction to the tattoo reveal was unscripted—it was his genuine shock at seeing himself in the mirror.

Why Watch?

If you enjoyed the outrageous humor of the first film, The Hangover Part II doubles down on shock value and insanity. It may not win awards for originality, but it delivers wild escapism, quotable lines, and unforgettable comedic set pieces.

Director’s Other Movies (Todd Phillips)

Recommended Films for Fans

Superbad (2007)
Pineapple Express (2008)
21 Jump Street (2012)
This Is the End (2013)
Project X (2012)

The Hangover Part II (2011)